Page 66 of The Crownless King
Half an hour later, they were pulling up to a swanky restaurant in downtown Black Hollow. Levi and Sebastian got out of the truck first before helping them out the back. By the time they came around to the restaurant entrance, the four of them were surrounded by balaclava-clad vampires. It was intimidating to say the least. Pride for her mate filled Amaya and she straightened her shoulders, the sway in her walk one that matched her king’s.
She was on the arm of the most powerful man in the city, and damn, that felt good. They were guided to a private dining room, and just as Raven had predicted, all eyes were on them. The staff was overly gracious, pulling out all the stops for the King of the Bayi. Amaya couldn’t hide her smile when they were finally seated at the elegant table.
“This is fancy,” she murmured.
Raven snickered. “I was thinking the same thing. I’ve been asking Bas to bring me here for a lil minute.”
“Where are the menus?” Amaya asked, searching the table.
“You won’t need them. Bas spoils Firefly, so we’re having the chef’s menu. It’s six courses, so you’ll get a little bit of everything,” Levi said, waving the waiter over.
He ordered wine for the table and Amaya bounced in her seat in excitement. The waiter brought two wine bottles to the table. One of Levi’s enforcers stepped to the table and watched like a hawk as both bottles were opened for the first time. Still, the male tasted both before nodding to Levi and Sebastian. It dampened her excitement just a little at the reminder that someone had tried to kill her mate two nights ago.
Levi slid a reassuring hand up her thigh and kissed her exposed shoulder.‘I’m not going anywhere any time soon, baby doll.’
She nodded and took a deep cleansing breath. Amaya eyed the bottle as Levi poured it into his glass. The wine was more viscous than that which he’d poured into hers and Raven’s glasses. Clearly, it contained blood, and why did that make her possessive? She wanted to be the only one to provide for him. She was almost jealous of the unnamed donor who gave for thatbottle, and that’s when Amaya realized she’d gone off the deep end. She sipped her wine and chuckled to herself.
Their dinner went well. The four of them got along and the conversation flowed between them easily. Levi’s hand never left her. His power along their connection heated her from the inside. That, coupled with his attentiveness, had Amaya smitten. Levi made his presence at her side known. His hand constantly strayed to her thigh, his small touches sending pleasurable shivers down her spine. If that wasn’t enough to have her squirming in her seat, the soft kisses he lavished on her exposed shoulders had goosebumps raised on her arms. Amaya hadn’t been prepared for an affectionate Levi. By the time they wrapped it up and stood to leave, her whole body was flushed.
‘Have I told you how amazing you smell?’Levi leaned into her neck, nuzzling her skin.
His dark chuckle had her trembling as heated tension grew between them. She was ready to be home, in his bed. Levi guided her from the private dining room, his hand on the small of her back, sending little pings of awareness flitting across her skin.
Amaya was so wrapped up in the king that she nearly ran smack into her grandfather, who was standing at the hostess table, his steely gaze on her. As always, Bradford was dressed crisply, not a wrinkle or stitch out of place. His salt and pepper hair was the only indication that he was over the age of fifty. Like all supernaturals, with the long lives they lived, it was hard to ascertain their age.
The disapproving look stopped Amaya in her tracks. Surprise momentarily had her mute. Her grandfather hardly ever left the compound, complaining about the way the worldaround him had changed. To see him not only out, but with two of the other elders of her family was shocking to say the least.
“Grandfather.”
“Amaya. How is Anita?”
She blinked at his brusque tone. “She’s better these days, actually.”
He looked shocked. “Really? Paul said she was in trouble.”
“The opposite. No thanks to Uncle Paul, we’re staying somewhere safe after his latest scheme. The lack of stress has done wonders for her.”
He frowned at the slight censure in her tone. “And you?”
“Wonderful.”
His eyes went directly to Levi and Amaya ignored his pointed look. The king wasn’t having it, though. He nudged her with the hand on her back and she swallowed a sigh.
“Grandfather, this is my mate, Levi Cauly. King, my grandfather, Bradford Armstrong.”
All three elders gasped, sharing a look between them. Amaya knew what that look meant and knew it would only be a matter of time before she or her mother were called before them. She looked around and noticed all eyes were on them, watching this conversation play out. Levi’s soothing touch in her mind grounded her.
In no mood to deal with it tonight, Amaya injected levity into her tone. “Want me to tell mom to call you?”
“Don’t worry. I will be in touch with you both.” Her grandfather’s eyes were hard, his jaw tight with anger as his gaze skimmed her neck.
“Then goodnight,” Amaya rushed out and grabbed Levi’s hand, leading him out of the restaurant.
Her grandfather wouldn’t make a bigger scene and for that, she was thankful. Bradford’s presence was a slap in the face, reminding her why she was not supposed to be mated with a Bayi vampire. Payment would come due for her betrayal, but she would gladly pay any price to be with Levi.
“Breathe, baby doll,” Levi whispered, kissing her shoulder as the SUV slid to a stop in front of them.
“I’m fine,” she promised him.
